The San Diego Padres watched their MLB betting nemesis win the 2010 World Series this year, but earned a decent consolation prize of their own. Manager Bud Black won the National League Manager of the Year voting, capping what became a disappointing season for the Padres yet again.

Black earned the Manger of the Year honors by barely winning the vote against Dusty Baker of the Cincinnati Reds, which is only ironic because his Padres barely missed the playoffs by two games. The Padres capped their year by losing a regular MLB betting series to the Giants in a thrilling, albeit disappointing, end to their season.

“This was a great year in the NL. I guess this vote could’ve gone either way. I feel fortunate that I won. All these guys are so deserving,” said Black after hearing he had won the award [credit: ESPN].

While personal records in baseball are great, the real prize is always the World Series, and the Padres are already being jilted in the National League. They’re getting 20-to-1 MLB betting odds to win the 2011. Those odds trail the defending champion Giants (10-to-1), Phillies (6-to-1), Reds (16-to-1) and Cardinals (15-to-1).

Bud Black’s work is just beginning. He now has the faith of management, the MLB betting faithful and his fans to take this team to the promised land of the playoffs in 2011. What he accomplished with the second-lowest payroll in all of baseball is truly incredible.

The next step for the San Diego Padres and Bud Black is overcoming their underdog MLB betting odds in the 2011 World Series, the same way that the rival Giants did so recently. The Padres have gone Black, and now they can’t go backwards. The next stop is the playoffs in 2011 MLB betting.